RIO DE JANEIRO -- Watching her teammates repeatedly step on the Olympic podium for six days tested Hilary Caldwell's patience.

The 25-year-old from White Rock, B.C., got her chance Thursday and joined Canada's sorority of swim medallists with a bronze medal in the women's 200-metre backstroke.

Caldwell claimed Canada's sixth medal in the pool, all won by women.

"I've seen six days of girls swimming absolutely lights-out fast," Caldwell said. "I'm glad I get to be a part of it for sure."

Maya Dirado of the U.S. won gold in two minutes 5.99 seconds ahead of silver medallist Katinka Hosszu of Hungary in 2:06.05.

Caldwell's 2:07.54 was almost four-tenths of a second slower than her heat, so her reaction to her medal was muted.

"I was happy, but I did want the gold medal," Caldwell said. "I think a 2:05 is in me, but it wasn't tonight. I think I saw the time and gave a little scowl.

"I can't be too upset. A podium is what I said I wanted coming in here and I'm pretty amazed and pleased with that."

Victoria's Ryan Cochrane in the 1,500-metre freestyle and the women's individual medley relay will race for medals in swimming's finale Saturday.

Toronto teenager Penny Oleksiak will attempt a fifth medal in Rio when she swims the relay.

With a freestyle gold, butterfly silver and two relay bronze medals already, the 16-year-old can match speedskater Cindy Klassen for the most medals won by a Canadian at a single Olympic Games.

Canada's women have won two more medals in Rio than their counterparts on the powerhouse Australian team "which is outrageous," Caldwell said.

"We're one of the top female teams here."

Her performance earned praise of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter.

"Γåòteamcanada's women are unstoppable! Congrats Γåòhilcaldwell on winning .Bronze in .swimming at .rio2016!," he tweeted.

Caldwell's bronze was Canada's second in backstroke following Kylie Masse's medal in the 100 metres earlier in the week.

Canada's last 200-metre Olympic backstroke medallist was Nancy Garapick, who also won bronze in the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal.

Hosszu was chasing a fourth gold medal of these games after winning both individual medley races and the 100 backstroke.

The Hungarian led off the blocks until Dirado chased her down over the final 50 metres. Caldwell held off Russia's Daria Ustinova to get on the podium.

Caldwell made a heart sign with her hands en route to the medal podium to parents Gillian and Chalmers in the stands. She walked up the risers to hug them afterward.

"I think they're both an absolute hysterical mess to be honest," Caldwell said.

Among Caldwell's several tattoos are a mermaid, a moose antler, the Olympic rings and Red Hot Chili Peppers lyrics.

Her most recent addition is the phrase "make it so," which her late coach Randy Bennett said to her. Bennett died of cancer in April, 2015, and Caldwell's program was taken over by Ryan Mallette.

"When I'm at a meet (Randy) is never far from my mind," Caldwell said. "Ryan Mallette has done such a great job of carrying on Randy's legacy.

"He really made last year OK when it really wasn't."

Cochrane posted the seventh-fastest qualifying time of 14 minutes, 53.44 seconds in the afternoon heats of the 1.5-kilometre freestyle. He trains alongside Caldwell in Victoria and is also coached by Mallette.

Cochrane earned silver four years ago in London behind winner Sun Yang of China, who was eliminated from contention in Friday morning's heats.

"The event is getting faster every year," Cochrane said. "I remember a few years ago just getting under 15 minutes in the heats would have easily got you into the final.

"Tomorrow will be my last 1,500 fully shaved and tapered so it shouldn't be hard to get up for it and see if I can get myself back on the podium."

Masse of LaSalle, Ont., Rachel Nicol of Lethbridge, Alta., Noemie Thomas of Richmond, B.C., and Kelowna, B.C.-born Taylor Ruck of Scottsdale, Ariz., set a Canadian record in the afternoon heats in the medley relay.

Their time of 3:56.80 was second-fastest behind the United States in 3:54:67. Masse's 58.66-second leadoff leg was a Canadian 100-metre backstroke record.

In the women's 50-metre freestyle, Winnipeg's Chantal Van Landeghem finished 10th in her semifinal and did not qualify for the final.